Energy switch enquiries lift Moneysupermarket November 6, 2013 SWATHES of customers looking to switch energy suppliers boosted Moneysupermarket.com’s revenue 25 per cent in the first few weeks of October. The company, whose website helps customers to compare insurance, utilities and energy prices, reported overall revenue growth for the third quarter to 30 September of five per cent. Moneysupermarket attributed the dramatic increase in [...]
British Gas announce 9.2 per cent price rise October 17, 2013 Centrica owned British Gas has announced a 9.2 per cent price rise fro this November. That follows a recent increase by competitor SSE, of 8.2 per cent (release). British Gas electricity prices will rise by 10.4 per cent, and gas prices by 8.4 per cent from 23 November. Today’s announcement, which will add about £2 [...]
Firms rein in price hikes after green deal December 2, 2013 FOUR of the big six energy suppliers pledged to reduce their price hikes yesterday, after the government said it would shift green levies away from energy bills and into general taxation. The move is expected to cut the average customer bill by £50 per year. Energy supplier E.On – the only one of the big [...]
Some of the City’s finest take a slice of the Villandry December 1, 2013 THE PATH from the City to the foodie industry is well-trodden, and the latest epicurean hangout to get the City-treatment is the Villandry. A consortium of well-known investors took stakes in the restaurant chain back in May 2011 and they’ll be raising a glass to its newest outpost, in St James’s, tomorrow – for the [...]
Energy bosses: We’ll cut bills if you cut taxes October 29, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT faced mounting pressure to reform its green policies yesterday after bosses from Britain’s largest energy companies promised that cutting the levies would be passed on to customers via lower bills. Executives from the big six energy firms were grilled by MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee as to why electricity and [...]
Britain must do more to accelerate exploitation of its vast shale potential January 13, 2014 TO SUPPORT the development of its huge shale potential, Britain desperately needs the backing of investors, local communities, and local government. The stakes are high – with the slow demise of the North Sea, we face rising import bills, a rapidly declining tax base and, as last year’s dispute at the Grangemouth refinery warned us, [...]
Big six energy bosses called before MPs October 22, 2013 The chief executives of the big six energy firms have been called before the energy select committee on 29 October. Sir Robert Smith MP said in a statement that "the committee has today decided to call in the energy bosses in the context of the latest wave of price increases". MPs will grill bosses over [...]
Labour wipes billions off energy firms as price freeze predicted to cost £6.8bn September 25, 2013 ED MILIBAND yesterday wiped £2bn off the value of leading energy firms, as investors rushed to sell shares in gas and electricity suppliers following the Labour leader’s announcement that he would freeze bills if elected in 2015. British Gas owner Centrica saw £1.1bn wiped off its market value and fellow supplier SSE shed £870m, as [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 04 November 2013 November 4, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Aircraft carrier cost to rise to £6.2bn Britain will this week reveal another substantial increase in the cost of building its two new aircraft carriers, declaring that total funding for the programme will rise by another £800m to £6.2bn.Philip Hammond, defence secretary, is expected to say that a new set of demands – [...]
Major stokes row with call for energy tax October 22, 2013 FORMER Prime Minister Sir John Major’s call for a one-off windfall tax on energy firms’ profits was lambasted as “misguided” and unfair yesterday, as analysts and investors warned the levy would discourage investment and raise consumers’ bills. Speaking at a lunch in Westminster, the former Conservative leader said recent price rises were unacceptable and suggested [...]